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If Greece is known as the cradle of Western civilization, then Egypt is the cradle of all civilization. Both countries are bounded by the Mediterranean. While Greece is a renowned seafaring nation, Egypt is better known for the Nile and its Pharaohs, who left dynastic emblems along its length in the form of temples, tombs and pyramids. Whether you want a beach holiday or a cultural tour through history, both Greece and Egypt offer something special.

Capital Ideas

Athens is home to the splendor of the Akropolis, where the temple dedicated to Pallas Athene takes center stage. The National Archaeological Museum is a vast treasure trove of riches to explore. Visitors work up an appetite that can be beautifully sated by a taverna in the snaking streets of the Plaka. Cairo is some 5,000 years old although the modern capital only came into existence in AD 969. The neighboring suburb of Giza is home to the most famous pyramids in the world, although Egypt has over 100 pyramids in total. Cairo's Museum of Egyptian Antiquities holds the incredible loot found in Tutankhamen's tomb and countless other antiquities.

Ancient History

The Nile has always been the lifeblood of the desert land of Egypt. In its upper reaches that pool above the Aswan Dam, the magnificent temple at Abu Simbel is a gigantic memorial to Ramses II and dates to the 13th century BC. Karnak in Luxor is the world's largest religious site, and it's a mammoth temple complex added to by successive pharaohs. Luxor's West Bank is home to elaborate tombs--including the queen Hatshepsut and Tutankhamen tombs--which was discovered intact in 1922.

Classical Civilization

After earthquakes and time, only ruins remain in Olympia, the site of the original Olympic Games, which were inaugurated way back in 776 BC. A couple of the other 16 UNESCO world heritage sites in Greece include the medieval city of Rhodes on the island of the same name and the incredible monasteries built on naturally inaccessible peaks in Meteora. Arcadia in the Peloponnese is home to the 5th century BC temple of Apollo at Bassae.

Hit the Beach

The Greek Islands are ideal for a sailing holiday to visit the raucous parties of Mykonos, the sublime sunsets of Santorini or the rocky solitude of Ithaca. On the mainland, even Athenians have beaches made accessible by the tram from central Syntagma Square to coastal Glyfada. The desert country of Egypt can be described as all beach, but the best beaches are on the Sinai Peninsula, where the Red Sea makes a colorful backdrop for scuba divers and wind surfers. The Mediterranean Coast east of Alexandria has deserted beaches and the war graves of El Alamein, while Hurghada's resorts make an excellent venue for family holidays.

Away From It All

Flee the madding crowds to lounge with the local dolphins on Skopelos Island; frolic around the monk seals of nearby Alonissos Island. Another lesser known aspect of a holiday in Greece is the ski center on Mount Parnassos, although most visitors don't come to Greece in the winter months. In Egypt, a weekend traveling between the Western Desert oases of Farafra, Bahariya, Dakhla and Kharga is a true break from city life. To really get away from it all, head towards the Libyan border and the Berber oasis town of Siwa.

Getting Around

Ferries or do-it-yourself sailboats are the best way to explore Greece's hundreds of islands, while renting a car makes discovering the villages and gorges of the mainland an independent delight. In Egypt, the distances involved mean flying is becoming the favored mode of tourist travel but the train along the length of the Nile is a lovely way to see the Delta villages and agriculture. A Nile cruise is popular, but true adventurers sail away for a few days on a traditional felucca.

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About the Author

Wendy Wrangham has been writing professionally since 1995. She co-founded Egypt's foremost entertainment magazine and continues to write print and online guides for "Dorling Kindersley," "Thomas Cook" and "In Your Pocket." She has also been published in Britain's "The Guardian" and was a staff writer for "The Prague Post." Wrangham holds an honors Bachelor of Arts in classics from England's University of Bristol.

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